Pages

Monday, June 2, 2014

Pirate Popsicles: Kids' Summer Treat

Arrrrr, matey! What swashbuckling kid doesn’t want a
pirate popsicle? The weather’s getting warmer, summer’s almost here and I’ve
been in a mood to freeze everything. From glitter ice cube paints to princess popsicles, I’ve been making quite a lot of sparkly, chilly art and treats.
After freezing pink (cranberry-strawberry) juice along with pearlescent sugar
and making princess pops, my son said, “No way mom! I don’t want that girly
popsicle!” Sure, they were pretty girly (I’ve been on an uber-girly kick lately
and making all kinds of princess and fairy themed art), but he did agree that
they were tasty too.

So, I thought- why leave the boys out? Yes, they can
enjoy the princess pops just as much as their female counterparts. But, just in
case your little dude thinks the pink cubes are a dud, you can try a “boyish”
substitution. As a bonus, this kids’ cooking activity includes a science theme.
Your child can explore the states of matter, watching the pops freeze and then
later melt as he eats them.

I was originally looking for star-shaped ice cube
trays (to make the princess pops), when I came across skill and cross-bones
molds. Instead of adding the pastel pink and purple pearlescent sugar and
light-hued juices that I used in the princess version, pirate pops have
gold-colored sugar (the pirate’s gold treasure is buried inside of the
popsicles) and darker juices.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·Skull and cross-bone mold- Even though
it sounds like a super-specialty, this was oddly easy to find at my local bed
and bath super-store. If all else fails, buy one online.

·Juice – I used cherry juice for a darker
color and lemonade for a clear version.

·Gold-colored pearl sugar – You can find
this with the cupcake toppings and sprinkles. If you can’t find it, mix course
sugar with yellow food coloring.

·Straws

·Scissors

Here’s What To Do:

1.Sprinkle
the “pirate’s booty” (the gold sugar) into the bottom of the ice cube tray. Have
your child create a thin layer with the sugar.

2.Pour
the juice onto the sugar. Your child can stir each watery cube together, mixing
up the sugar and juice.

3.Ask
your child what he thinks will happen to his creations when they get cold. Put
the cubes in the freezer.

4.Cut
the straws in half. Each half becomes a popsicle stick.

5.Periodically
check on the cubes. Your child can make observations as to what is happening as
the liquid freezes. When the cubes are semi-frozen, push a straw half into each
one.

6.Take
the pirate pops out of the freezer when they are completely frozen and enjoy!

Are you looking for more summer ideas to beat the heat? Check out and follow my kids' summer activities board on Pinterest.

Follow Me On Pinterest

Subscribe To

Erica Loop is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.